One look at the innocent, squishy face of a Pug and your heart will want nothing more than to cuddle up and love on this dog breed.
As one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, Pugs live in a perpetual state of puppyhood. Loyal to the end to the people they love, they make great family pets.
Below are some personality traits of the Pug that makes this dog the ideal best friend.
The Playful Pug
Pugs love a good plush toy. It’s not uncommon for a Pug to choose your child’s favorite stuffed animal as their own or want free choice out of the toybox. Small, soft toys that squeak or grunt are a favorite of pugs.
Pugs also love treats so any toy that combines fun and food will be a hit with your pug.
While pugs do prefer to spend a lot of time sleeping, once they choose a favorite toy, you have hours of tug-of-war and fetch ahead of you.
The Outdoorsy Pug
While their squishy faces are cute, their flat noses do constrict the airways making it harder for Pugs to catch their breath during strenuous physical activity. This doesn’t mean you and your Pug can’t enjoy outdoor adventures and excursions. Pugs need a certain level of daily exercise, up to 20 minutes a day, to help maintain a healthy weight and physical health. You just need to plan ahead when enjoying outdoor time with your dog. Make sure to have plenty of water, a cool place for rest in the summer, and let your Pug partake in their favorite activity, napping, during the day.
The Kid-Friendly Pug
Pugs are one of the friendliest dog breeds and make great companions for children. Their stocky nature makes them tough enough to handle a little rough-housing from the youngest ones, and their calm temperament doesn’t make them prone to nipping or biting at kids or even other pets. In fact, Pugs get along well with dogs and cats making them the perfect addition to a family who already has multiple pets.
The Devoted Pug
Pugs love their owners even more than you love them – I know, it’s hard to believe! They may even choose one or two family members to be particularly loyal to, making sure to always greet that person first when the family comes home and making sure that person gets plenty of extra cuddle time. Not known for being aggressive watchdogs, Pugs rarely bark or growl when strangers enter your home. However, devotion to the family can lead to feelings of protectiveness, and some Pugs will bark at a stranger or be wary of a new person until one of the owners makes them feel at ease.
The Trainable Pug
Pugs are highly food motivated when it comes to training. Extremely food motivated, in fact. If a Pug knows a reward treat is hiding behind your back or in your pocket, expect a flurry of excitement while they try to sit, stay, or do a number of any other training tricks to please you. Pugs are not self-conscious dogs and will eat treats until they look like little, round, furballs so limit treat training to avoid obesity. With a sensitive, friendly nature, Pugs can become timid if harsh discipline is the method used for any type of training.
The Sleepy Pug
Pugs love to sleep and will sleep up to 14 hours a day. They make perfect snuggle buddies but expect to share your favorite place on the couch or bed, especially if your Pug chooses you as its favorite sleep buddy. Pugs snore. A lot and loudly! You may just be hitting a deep sleep only to be awoken by what sounds like a tractor driving through your bedroom. Snoring, grunting and snorting are funny sounds all Pugs make while sleeping.
The Tail End of Choosing a Pug
Whether you’re looking for a small lap dog that loves attention, or just can’t resist the Pug nose and curly tail of this breed, a Pug is a life-long, dependable companion. With the right training and proper exercise, Pugs live long, healthy lives providing plenty of love and funny antics for their owners.
